No one's got it all

dress: Forever 21

cardigan: pretty sure I stole this from my sister's apartment, sorry Amy

bag, midi rings and shoes: Urban Outfitters

bracelet: gift

For round 2 of Post Titles Inspired By Emotional Songs, I was putting this together and thinking of all of the different ways that I should've merchandised my outfit better, stood with better posture, adjusted the lighting, used a real camera (maybe with a tripod, WHOA) and used a hundred filters to make my wine-bloated face less offensive to your precious eyes. I tend to really over-analyze what I throw out there and it tends to lead to overall anxiety and self-consciousness (even though, let's be honest, having a personal fashion blog is a totally blatant exercise in some degree of ego-stroking). 

And though the less insane part of me just wants to show you something pretty, with the limited resources I have available, I just want it all.

Mary

P.S. The song is "Hero" by Regina Spektor.

I've got a land mine in my blood line

Jacket, tank and pants all Forever 21

necklace: vintage

shoes: Target

bag: UO

The post title isn't really relevant to anything, I've just been listening to the Old 97's lately.

Let me just say that this jacket is itchy as all hell on the insides of the sleeves and I can't EVEN really complain about it because it was probably stitched together in a sweatshop for six cents and purchased for just slightly above that. 

What I WILL bitch about is the fact that I ordered cute business cards for this blog (RIGHT?) and the post office lost them. That was me storming down Broadway through Brooklyn this afternoon throwing the adult equivalent of a walking-tantrum. I don't know how else I'm supposed to quadruple my monthly readership to 24 without a little bit of print exposure. Plus giving away a card with your name on it just looks cool. Like holding a clipboard. 

In other news, my 25th birthday is approaching at an alarming rate, and I would like to thoughtfully plan out my quarter-life crisis meltdown. I'm going to move to Portland and start keeping indoor terrariums and eat food only if it was sourced no further than ten blocks away. I should also probably start dating someone in a band.

Crying into my wine,

Mary

Bellavance FW 2013, Milk Studios

Nolan Bellavance and Ava Hama debuted their first collection earlier last month and I managed to elbow my way to the front of the room (stopping briefly to pluck an unidentified hors d'oeuvre off of a tray) to get to the gothy goodness. The patent-leather trimmed jacket made me all happy and the floral dresses looked super modern and sleek paired with boots and dark red lipstick (which I'm seeking out today).

In other news, I have consumed nothing but juice in the last 36 hours (you know, for science) and I'm feeling slightly less crappy than last night. I was told that today, day 2 of 3,  might be a good day to stay in bed, but I think I would just end up feeling worse. Lethargy and hunger are not something I want to lay in bed with for the next 12 hours so I'm going to do...something. ACTIVITIES. Headache be damned.

NYFW: Christian Siriano FW 2012/2013

On Saturday I was able to attend the Christian Siriano Fall/Winter 13/14 fashion show in Chelsea. I've been following his collections since kicking ass on Project Runway and it's crazy how much his aesthetic has matured from his feathers-and-ruffles days of 2008.

This collection was heavily Baroque architecture-inspired, and Siriano stated post-show that his girl this season was "headed to the Russian opera".

He also had a "mourning widow" thing going on. There were many more black dress/head scarf combos similar to the look above.

The image quality here is sketch but this was his finishing piece for good reason. This chick looked like she was wearing liquid gold.

The full collection.

Also, I'm reading that versions of the shoes from this collection are already being sold at Payless?! I'll just leave this right here and remind my dozen readers that my birthday is in six weeks. 

Mary

Calla Fall/Winter 2013/2014

I visited NYC's legendary Milk Studios this evening to view several up-and-coming fashion designer presentations for Fall & Winter of 2013/2014 (crazy right? I can't even decide what I want to wear to work TOMORROW). It was an event. There were so many beautiful people and media photographers I temporarily short-circuited and took to just staring at everyone for upwards of sixty seconds at a time before being reminded that I was indeed in public. 

I'm starting the next slew of posts with Calla, a Canadian-born designer who produces via Paris and claims her collection was inspired by all kinds of awesome nerdy stuff like Zelda, Tetris and Tron. I needn't say more.

A massive thank you to Keiko Lynn for allowing me the opportunity to attend!

Mary

Tutorial: DIY Gradient Nails for the Lazy

I'm posting this little fancy-ass picture tutorial of my fun nails because 1. They're a hit with strangers on the train, so that must mean something, and 2. Every tutorial I looked up on the internet involving a similar look involved tools, time, and a physics degree to achieve, and we're all about minimal effort here. Let's do it.

Step 1:
Assemble your arsenal. As you can see, I spared no expense for you.

All you need is a base color, some glitter polish, and a top coat. Boom.

Step 2:

Apply base color as normal. I'm especially angsty and goth today.

Step 3: This is when you need to put the wine down for five seconds and kind of concentrate. You need to glob that glitter onto the very tip of the nail. 

GLOB IT.

Do not fear the glitter. The glitter and you are one now.

After said globbing, wipe the excess off of the brush.

Step 4:

Using light, quick strokes with the brush, blend the glitter toward the cuticle for the gradient look. LIGHT. If you use the same pressure you normally would, your entire nail will end up just glitter, and you will have disappointed Auntie Mary.

Look at you go.

Step 5: Look smug. Tell that office bitch that "it's really too complicated to explain" when she asks how you did it. Repeat for one week straight, because glitter nail polish is positively bionic and that shit will not chip.

Top coat and done.

I know...I love you too.

Mary

What I see on the train lately

...That makes me sad I struck out on Christmas bonuses this year. I work in a fancy part of Manhattan now, and lately all of my train rides are nothing but visual envy.

Shearling

Awkward layering

Dr. Martens

Old-world patterns

Textured tights

Shoe embroidery

Leather sleeves

Public transit in this city is hilarious. In one area, I might be sitting next to weathered old man listening to him talk to himself about Vietnam, and a few stops later, I'm blinded by a Prada bag logo and a sparkly holiday manicure. Maybe one day I'll be brave enough to take actual photos...until then, I'm the girl weirdly staring at you and then pretending to look at my phone. Yes, I know there's no reception underground.

In weirdness,

Mary